By Thomas Grant, Jr.
Former Lexington High School state champion Lauren Stephenson is now a tournament winner on the professional tour.
The 27-year-old Stephenson won the Twin Bridges Championship on the Epson Tour this past weekend. Pulling away from a group tied for first place, Stephenson finished 1-over-par 72 to capture her first professional title.
In addition, she moved to third in the Race for the Card and a chance to return to the LPGA.
“I think it’s been six years since I won, at least in college,” Stephenson said. “So yeah, I don’t really know what to do right now, but I’m super excited. I didn’t come to the course at all Thursday, and I saw nine holes on Wednesday, and I had never been here. There are multiple holes I didn’t see because I was sick and just kind of rocked with it in the short grass, and it worked out for me.”
Stephenson did not have her A-game during her final round, going birdie-free for 17 holes before rolling in a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to seal the tournament. Before that, it was grinding for pars and missed birdie opportunities as Jessica Porvasnik made a late rally to try and track her down.
The University of Alabama alum was also battling a cold all week, only seeing nine holes of Pinehaven Country Club before her first round. The saying “beware of the sick golfer” rang true throughout the course over the three days of play as Stephenson went wire-to-wire.
This was her best result on the Epson Tour was a T4 finish at the 2024 Atlantic Beach Classic.
The Epson Tour heads into a three-week break before heading out west to Pendleton, Oregon, for the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, August 16-18
Photo courtesy of the Epson Tour – Lauren Stephenson of Lexington High School
